Dean Martin is alive and well in Northern Cyprus.
I believe in reincarnation and it’s a good thing I do as I saw Dean Martin last night!  Dino was on good form and entertained, in his relaxed, easy-going manner, around 250 fans at The Rocks Hotel in aid of The Children in Need Foundation.
With the monies raised from this show and the show on Sunday, they made TL20,000 and it will be well spent in providing desks and chairs for the children of Esentepe School, who are currently being taught lessons whilst they sit on the floor – can you believe that? – and also in buying a large 17-seater bus for the Social Services School children in Nicosia.

The evening started with a meal which, considering the numbers involved was not only very tasty but hot.  Sadly though there must have been problems in the kitchen as some tables had finished their meals whilst others were still waiting to be served.  The desert was a sublime “I’ve died and gone to heaven” chocolate mousse with fruit coulis. Tea and coffee were served at the end of the meal and once the initial rush to get a drink had died down, the drinks waiters’ service was excellent.

Dino came on around 9.30pm and stayed on stage belting out song after song for just over an hour.  He was extremely professional and sang all the songs we love to hear; Memories Are Made Of This, Let It Snow, That’s Amore, Volare,  Mambo Italiano and of course, Dino would not have lived up to expectations had he neglected to sing Little Old Wine Drinker Me.

Dino left the stage and the raffle took place.  There were six prizes up for grabs including a 26” LCD TV donated by The Fez and the man who won immediately donated it to the Social Services Children’s School in Nicosia. A special signed CD and DVD of Dino plus a photograph of the winner being presented with the prize was then auctioned and this raised a further TL425 and was bought by Vena Vici Restaurant and Bar of Alsancak.

After the raffle Dino must have left the building because in his place we were entertained by the Legends of Swing and all manner of famous crooners including Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jnr, Andy Williams, Nat King Cole and the daddy of them all, Bing Crosby. This second half lasted about 45 minutes and it was a truly nostalgic walk down memory lane with songs such as Mr Bojangles, Luck Be a Lady, Route 66, Mack the Knife and White Christmas.

This performance was the first of many it is hoped, brought to us culture starved residents in North Cyprus by The Supper Club.  Plans for future shows include The Rat Pack Boys, The Manhattans Motown Show and Diane Shaw, Jazz and Motown Diva.
The organisers should all be patting themselves on the back right now and giving sighs of relief as their gamble paid off.  It was a super night and there was no doubt everyone enjoyed themselves and we are all looking forward to the next foray into the world of The Supper Club.

One thing disturbs me though, as I was leaving I heard someone say it wasn’t actually Dino on stage at all but Alan Becks, the UK’s premier Dean Martin Tribute. I for one reckon they have that wrong, it was definitely Dino….. and Bobby Darin and Tony Bennett and Sammy Davis Jnr et al, after all I believe in reincarnation so I should know!

Marsha Marlowe
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